With the rise of Korean pop culture and dramas, American fans have become more curious about what life actually is like in Korea. Especially with the release of Netflix series SKY castle and Crash Course in Romance, there has been more attention given to the intense Korean education system. As a Korean international student myself living in America, I am here to highlight the similarities and differences between the American and Korean education systems
The major difference between the Korean and American education systems is the age in which students begin their schooling. In Korea, a teenager would begin high school at age 17, but in America, a teenager would begin high school at 15 years old. Following this, Korean students spend more time in school than American students do. Korean students also attend academies after school for extra tutoring to get ahead of the course.
The similarities between the Korean and American education systems are that they both focus on math, science, and foreign languages. However, Korean schools also place a strong emphasis on subjects such as history and social studies. They are also required to learn English as a second language starting from a young age. In my opinion, I think that American schools focus less on memorization as they teach students skills in critical thinking and problem solving.
Another large difference is that Korean students take large final exams four times over the course of a year. These exams are 60 to 70 percent of the final grade. Therefore, the students must memorize all of the unit(s) that they learned in school. In Korea, students will practice for a final test in their academy. Korean academies typically hold classes from 12 AM to 1 AM. In America, following school, students typically focus on homework and test preparation.
Beyond this, I have noticed in my time here that American schools place a heavier emphasis on playing sports and living healthy lifestyles. American students excel in sports such as baseball and basketball, allowing American students to develop leadership skills. In Korea, many students do not play sports or regularly stay active due to the demanding workload and school pressure.
Leave a Reply